Stonecutting machine



L. L. SMITH Nov. 22, 1949 STONECUTTING MACH INE Filed April 14, 1 948 5 Shee'ts-Sheet l m A w r m Nov. 22, 1949 L. L. SMITH 2,488,643

STONECUTTING MACHINE Filed April 14, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR W,M-7 M Nov. 22, 1949 L. L. SMITH 2,488,643

STONECUTTIQNG MACHINE Filed April 14, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVEN TOR.

leorlara'l. Sin/lb.

Nov. 22, 1949 SMITH I 2,488,643

STONECUTTING MACHINE Filed April 14, 1948 5 Sheets-Shet- 4 IN VEN T013.

' leollardl. Sill/III.

ATTORNEYS 3 way and carriage and showing the work-supporting bed in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 2.

ure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the trackway and bench and an end elevational view of the carriage.

Figure 5 is a detailed view of the mechanical connection for the two reversing valves and the snap-action mechanism for actuating the valves.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of part of the valve which has the snap-action lever mechanism associated therewith.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating how the carriage moves along the trackway.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the machine showing how the work may be positioned thereon.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the hydraulic driving system in condition to move the carriage in one direction.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the hydraulic system in one condition to move the carriage in the opposite direction.

With reference to the drawings, in Figure 8 I have illustrated the general arrangement of my machine. The machine comprises mainly an elongated trackway I which is horizontally disposed, and which is supported above a worksupporting bed 2 which is also horizontally positioned. The trackway I is disposed along one side of the bed 2 and a carriage 3 is mounted for reciprocatory movement on such trackway.

The work-supporting bed 2 is preferably in the form of a grill to permit dust or other waste material to drop therethrough. This bed is disposed at a slightly lower level than the trackway I, depending upon the thickness of the work W to be out which is supported on the bed. The trackway I and bed 2 may be vertically adjustable relatively, if desired, although I have not illustrated the adjusting mechanism. The bed is provided at one of its ends with a gauge strip 4 which will engage the end of the work W and locate it properly on the bed 2. Adjacent the trackway I, the bed 2 is provided with an elongated continuous slot 5 which will permit the cutting wheel 6, carried by the carriage, to extend downwardly thereinto during the stone-cutting operation and movement of the carriage 3 along the trackway I.

The trackway I is in the form of a pair of spaced longitudinally extending tracks 1 which are secured together by transverse bars 8. These bars 8 serve to support an elongated rack 9 which extends the full length of the tracks I and is located between such tracks just slightly lower than the upper surfaces of such tracks, as indicated best in Figures 1, 4, '7 and 8.

The carriage 3 includes a base plate In which has parallel channels or grooves II formed in its lower surface and extending longitudinally thereof, as shown best in Figure 4. It will be noted that these grooves or channels II fit over the tracks I and serve to guide the carriage along these tracks. The carriage is moved along the tracks by means of a pinion I2 which engages the rack 9, as shown best in Figures 1 and 4. The pinion I2 is keyed on a horizontal shaft I3 which is rotatably carried by bearings I4 secured beneath the base plate ID. by driving mechanism to be subsequently described.

The base plate I8 adjacent one end thereof carries the stone-cutting unit which includes a driving motor I5 to which current is supplied by This shaft is rotated a flexible cable I6. This motor, as shown in Figure 3, is carried on a plate I! which is mounted for sliding movement in transverse guideways I8 secured to the base plate I 8. The transverse adjustment is accomplished by means of a screw I9 actuated by a crank 20. The motor is supported for vertical adjustment relative to the plate I! by means including a screw 2I (Figure 2) which is rotated by means of a crank 22. This stonecutting unit is of the usual type and need not be illustrated and described in detail. The drive shaft of the motor carries the cutting wheel 6 which is preferably of the diamond-wheel type. It will be noted that the wheel 6 is located over the slot 5 in the bed 2 and may extend downwardly thereinto. The vertical position of the wheel can be adjusted by operating the crank 22 while its lateral position relative to the work can be adjusted accurately by operatin the crank 28. A guard 23 is preferably provided over the upper portion of the wheel.

The driving mechanism for driving the shaft I3 so as to propel the carriage 3 along the trackway I will now be described in detail. It includes an electric motor 24 which is carried by the base plate ID at the end opposite to where the motor I5 is disposed. Current it supplied to the motor 24 by a flexible cable 24a. The drive shaft of this motor 24 carries a pulley 25 (Figures 1 and 4) which is engaged by a belt 29 that passes around a second pulley 21. This pulley 21 is keyed on the rotor shaft of a gear type hydraulic pump 28 which is also carried by the base plate I8. Thus, the pump 28 will be driven whenever the motor 24 is energized. The hydraulic system also includes a hydraulic motor 29 to which fluid pressure is supplied by the pump 28 in a manner to be described later in detail. This hydraulic motor 29 is carried on a horizontal plate 30 (Figures 1 and 4) which is supported b a pair of vertical plates 3| which are attached to the base plate In of the carriage. The hydraulic motor 29 is provided with a drive shaft 32 which extends into a gear reduction unit 33 which is also secured to the plate 30 adjacent the motor 29. This unit 33 is provided with a shaft 34 which extends outwardly beyond the plate 38 but is supported by a bearing standard 35 carried thereby. The outer end of the shaft 34 has a multiple pulley 36 keyed thereto around which pass a plurality of belts 31. These belts 31 extend downwardly around a multiple pulley 38 which is keyed on the outer end of the extended shaft I3 that carries the pinion I2. Thus, it will be apparent that when the pump 28 supplies pressure to the motor 29, the gear reduction unit 33 will be driven which will drive the belts 31 and, in turn, will result in driving the pinion-carrying shaft I3 .to traverse the carriage along the trackway I.

It will be noted best from Figures 9 and 10 that the hydraulic motor 29 is preferably of the gear type being substantially the same as the gear pump 28 but receiving rather than developing fluid pressure. The piping for the hydraulic system includes an inlet or fluid-supplying pipe 39 which extends from a fluid reservoir 48 to the inlet side of the pump 28. It will be noted best from Figure 1, that the reservoir or tank 48 is supported by the upper plate 30 adjacent the motor 29 and unit 33. Referring again to Figures 9 and 10, it will be noted that the pump 28 is provided with a return outlet or relief line 4I leading back to the tank 48. Incorporated in this '16 outlet line adjacent the tank 48 is a relief valve 42 and a pressure gauge interposed in this line.

ange-see 43. .nranchingzfromthe outletline 4| of the pump 28 is another line =44 which leads to the tank 40. Interposed in this line is a reversing three-way valve 45 .Anil iher line 46 is also connected to the valve .45 and leads to the tank 40. A line 41 is connected to the line 44 and leads to the tank 40. The motor 29 is interposed in this line and is associated with .a second three-way reversing valve 48 which is also The valve .48 is connected by a line 49 to the line 4!. The line 41 is connected to a line 56, at "a point below the connection of such line 4| to .line 46. Line '50 is connected to the line 44,.at a point-above the connection of line 44 to line 41 and to valve .52. The line 56 had an adjustable needle valve :51 incorporated therein. Between the points of connection of the lines 56 and .41 to the line 44, an adjustable needle valve 52 is interposed in the line 44. Finally the hydraulic systemincludes the filler pipe 53 provided for the tank '46. Theoperation of this hydraulic system will be described later in detail.

Each of the valves 45 and 48 comprises a rotatable core 55 (Figures 9 and 10) having three openings 56, 5! and 58 therein. As shown in Figure 1, valve 48 is located adjacent motor 26 while Valve 45 is located adjacent pump 28. The valve 48 is operated by means of a lever 59 (Figure 5) which is rigidly connected to its core while the valve 45 is rotated by means of a lever 60 rigidly connected to its core. The levers 59 and 66 are connected together by a link 6| which is pivoted thereto. Thus, when one of the valve cores is rotated, the other is rotated. It will'be noted from Figure 9, that in one position of't'he valve 45 and valve 48 the fluid from the pump 28 will enter the motor 29 at one side thereof. On the other hand, with the valve 45, and the valve 48 rotated to the other position, as shown in Figure 10, fluid will enter the motor 2-9 from the pump 28 at the other side of the motor. Thus, rotation of the motor can be reversed by'simultaneous actuation of the valves.

In order to obtain a definite quick reversal of the motor rather than a gradual reversal, I pro- Vide snap-action mechanism for actuating the valves which is shown in Figures 5.ancl 6. This mechanism comprises a lever .62 whichis pivoted by a pin 63 to the core of the valve 45 at the axis thereof. The valve core extends beyondthe valve housing and its outer extremity is integral with or rigidly secured to the lever 60. The everafifl is provided with angularly spaced stops between which the lower end of the lever 62 'may swing within a limited arc. This provides a lost :motion connection for the lever 62 to the valve core which permits limited movement of the lever relative to the core before rotating it. A tensionspring is connected to the lever 62 at a point 6.6 towards its outer end andis anchored to the plate ll) of carriage 3 at apoint 61 (Figures .1 and 5) which is in the same vertical plane as the lever pivot 63. This providesan off-center mechanism which will quickly snapthe lever 62 to the extent of its movement whenever it is moved past -the center line 68 shown in Figure 5. Thus, initial movement of the lever .62 in either direction will not rotate the valve core. However, as soon as the lever moves beyond the center line '68, the spring will quickly .snap it to its final position and quickly rotate .both valve cores .due to the mechanical connection provided by the levers 59 and .66 and the link 61. The stops 64 serve to limit swinging movement of the lever *62. "For limiting rotation of tne-vaLve-eo s to trade-tar mined positions, stops 641; are provided in assorciation with valve 48 toensase ever 59 and to limit swinging movement thereof.

I Order to operate the levcrtl-as thescarria reaches the end of its vstrokeineither direction, I de tr pp n memb rs carried :by the bed :2 adjacent trackway I. ,Atoneendoiathe traokwav, as shownzin i ures 7 andtfiathetripping-member is in the form of an angular armdis' which :is anchored to bed 2 and which has ;an;-inwar dly directed horizontal portion :69 for engaging the lever 62 as thecarriagermoves-tto therightztowareds the end of'ztheztrackway l. 'The'trippingmember at'the other end of the bedcomprises a lever FIJI which is pivoted at '12 -.to the flipper end of a bracket '13 secured to;the .bed 2. A stop '14 limits downward swinging of the lever 11. A trans,- versely extending pin lla (Figures 1, 7 and 18) on carriage .3 is adapted ito move beneath this lever II. 'It will be noted that :the lever-3|. :is .provided with a plurality of openings 55170 vary the effective length of the lever ll and, there fore, to vary the point at Which-it iS-engage'dby the pin 1 la. The member 69, aidedby spring 65, serves to move the lever 62 into substantially horizontal positiondi-rec'ted to the left; as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5 when carriage 3-moves to theextreme right. When thecarriagefl moves to the left, pin Ha passes beneath-the lever "H and will force it upwardly. At this time lever 1-] is beneath lever 62 and aided bysprin'gfi d, will move lever 62 to the full line position shown'in Figure 5.

In the operation 'of this machine, the work, for example a stone slab to be cut, is properly positioned on the bed 2, as shown'in Figure *8. The member TI is properlyadjust'ed to obtain the desired stroke or travel of the carriage 3a1ong the trackway l. The wheel-rotating motor i5 is energized and thecarria-ge-drivi-ng motor 24 is energized. The wheel 6 will be rotated and will cut into the stone as the carriage-is moved'along'. As previously indicated,-and.as-will be clear from FiguresQand 10, the pump'2-8-driven by the motor 24 will actuate the hydraulic motor 29 which rotates the carriage-driving pinion t2 that engages the rack 9. Withthe valves 45 and 48 in the condition shown in Figure 9, the motor'29 driven in one direction thereby moving the carriage in one direction through gear unit 66-. With the valves 45 and 48 in-the condition shown in Figure 10, the motor 29 is rotated in the other direction thereby moving the carriage in the opposite direction.

With the valves 45 and 48 in the condition shown in Figure 9, if the wheel 6 strikes an excessively hard portion of stone and there-is undue resistance to movement of the carriage, the back pressure which would be built up-thereby in the line 41 leading to'the motor 26 wil lbe relieved through valve 52 and line 44 leading'to tank as. On the other hand, ifthis condition occurs with valves 45 and 48 as shown in'Figure' 10, the back pressure built up in line 49 will be relieved through valve 5|, line 50 and "line 44.

Since the cutting wheel 6 is driven by a drive independent from the carriage, the wheel and carriage drives will have no effect on each other.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a stone-cutting machine which is lighter, more simplej'less expensiveland more eificient and, therefore, capable of putting more stone, than the heavy, umbersome and complicated machines -noW' commonly "in use for 7 cutting stone. Many advantages of this machine have been mentioned and others will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A machine for cutting stone or the like comprising a bed, a carriage mounted for reciprocable movement along the bed, a cutting member rotatably supported on the carriage, driving means on the carriage, for directly rotating said cutting member, means for moving the carriage along the bed, independent driving means on the carriage for actuating said last-named means, said independent driving means comprising a hydraulic motor, a pump for supplying fluid pressure to said motor, means for automatically reversing said carriage driving means as the carriage reaches predetermined points along the bed, said means comprising control means for controlling the supply of pressure fluid from the pump to opposite sides of said hydraulic motor, said control means comprising a pair of valves connected to said pump and to said motor for changing the flow of pressure fluid from said pump to opposite sides of said hydraulic motor, and means for actuating said valves simultaneously, said means including snap-action mechanism and tripping members along the bed for actuating said snap-action mechanism.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of said tripping members is adjustable along the bed.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for moving the carriage along the bed comprises a pinion disposed on a driven shaft carried by the carriage and a rack carried by the bed, and a mechanical drive between said hydraulic motor and said shaft.

4. A machine for cutting stone or the like comprising a bed, a carriage mounted for reciprocable movement along the bed, a stone cutting member carried by the carriage, means for moving the carriage along the bed, means for driving said means and including a hydraulic motor, a pump for supplying fluid pressure to said motor, and

means for automatically reversing said carriage moving means as the carriage reaches predetermined points along the bed, said means comprising control means for controlling the supply of pressure fluid from the pump to opposite sides of said hydraulic motor, said control means ineluding a pair of valves connected to said pump and to said motor for changing the flow of pressure fluid from said pump to opposite sides of said hydraulic motor, means for actuating said valves simultaneously, said means including snap-action mechanism and tripper members along the bed for actuating said snap-action mechanism.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said snap-action mechanism includes a lever to be engaged by the tripper members, and lost motion means associated with said lever to permit limited movement thereof in either direction without actuating said valves.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein one of said tripper members is adjustable along the bed.

7. A machine for cutting stone or the like comprising a work-supporting bed, a trackway associated with the bed, a carriage mounted for reciprocable movement along the trackway, said trackway including tracks which cooperate with guides on the carriage, a cutting member rotatably supported on the carriage and overhanging the bed, means on said bed for properl locating 8 the work, an electric motor on the carriage for directly rotating said cutting member, means for moving the carriage along the trackway, said means comprising a pinion disposed on a rotatable shaft carried by the carriage which engages a rack associated with the trackway, independent driving means on the carriage for rotating said shaft and including a hydraulic motor supported on the carriage, a pump supported on the carriage for supplying fluid pressure to said hydraulic motor, an electric motor on the carriage for driving said pump, and a pair of control valves connected to said pump and to said hydraulic motor for changing the flow of pressure fluid from said pump to opposite sides of said hydraulic motor, mechanical means connecting said valves together for simultaneous operation, and tripper members disposed along the trackway for actuating said valves at predetermined times during movement of the carriage along the trackway to reverse movement of said carriage.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including a snap-action lever mechanism associated with one of said valves and engaged by said tripper members.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the lever mechanism includes a lever having lost motion connection to said mechanical means which connects said valves together.

10. A machine for cutting stone or the like comprising a bed, a carriage mounted for reciprocable movement along the bed, means for moving the carriage along the bed, said means comprising a mechanical drive between the bed and carriage, means on the carriage for actuating said mechanical drive, said means comprising an electric motor, a fluid pump driven by said motor, a fluid motor for receiving pressure from the pump, said pump being connected to said fluid motor by its pressure line leading to one side of said fluid motor, a line leading from said pump to the opposite side of said fluid motor, a control valve associated with the said pressure line and a separate control valve associated with said other line, mechanical means for connecting said valves together for simultaneous operation to control the flow of fluid from the pump to opposite sides of said fluid motor, and operating members associated with said bed for operating said valves to reverse movement of said carriage along the bed.

11. A machine according to claim 10 wherein snap-action off-center lever mechanism is associated with said mechanical means for connecting said valves, said operated members engaging said lever mechanism.

12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein ighel operating members are adjustable along the 13. A machine according to claim 11 wherein a lost motion connection is associated with said lever mechanism to permit limited movement of said lever before actuating said valve.

14. A machine according to claim 10 wherein an adjustable valve is connected to the pressure line of said pump and an adjustable valve as associated with said other line to relieve back pressure built up in such lines.

15. A machine for cutting stone or the like comprising a bed, a carriage mounted for reciprocable movement along the bed, means for moving the carriage along the bed, said means comprising a mechanical drive between the bed and carriage, means on the carriage for actuating said mechanical drive, said means including a fluid pump and a fluid motor for receiving pressure from the pump, said pump being connected 9 to said fluid motor by its pressure line leading to one side of said fluid motor, a line leading from said pump to the opposite side ofgsaid fluid motor, a. control valve associated witliflthe said pressure line and a separate control valve associated with said other line, mechanical means for 5 connecting said valves together for siniu'ltaneous operation to control the flow of fluidgfrom the pump to opposite sides of said fluid I ll Q1201, and operating members associated with said bed for operating said valves to reverse movement of said carriage along the bed.

LEONARD L. SMITH.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

